Ingredient Spotlight: Stearalkonium Chloride

Stearalkonium Chloride is an antistatic ingredient used in hair-care products. It was originally developed as a fabric conditioner, now used in hair conditioners.

What does it do for the hair?

It helps to reduce static electricity by neutralizing electrical charges on hair. It's a great conditioning agent. Provides the hair with shine, reduces tangles, controls flyaways and aids in easy combing.

it is a very toxic chemical and lord only knows what the long term ramifications can be. I personally think that all of these chemicals in products and food are the cause for the rapid rise in diseases and cancer. I would be cautious

It is also in Hairveda's Acai Berry Phyto Conditioner. I found that it does not have as much slip as a Trader Joe's Tea tree condish or Darcy's Botanical'S Pumpkin Condish...It does seem to sink if faster though, maybe the ingredients are more of a delivery system for the proteins...Food for though...

Actually, this ingredient is considered a low hazard by the Cosmetics Database. It is often labeled as a toxin , however studies showed it is safe and non-toxic at the concentrations typically used in cosmetic products (0.1% up to 5%). The ingredients you should be most concerned with are preservatives. There is really no way to avoid them if a product contains water. The FDA does not regulate cosmetics unless you make certain claims that it heals something or cures something. Then it's considered a drug. The FDA will approve almost any ingredient most of the time unless it causes immediate problems or danger. Parabens are formaldehyde donors (also in some kinds of gum and who knows what else we're eating), but Phenoxyethanol and DMDM Hydantoin are two of the worst, in my opinion. The FDA even wrote an article on the dangers of Phenoxyethanol.I make my own products and I would use Stearalkonium Chloride based on the spec sheets I've read about it.....and I use only natural, organic, plant based preservatives. There expensive but it's worth it.

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For years I struggled to understand my relaxed hair. I created this blog to track my journey, set backs and progress!

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